TWO schools are joining forces in a bid to get more than £1 million of Government cash and gain technology college status.

The Causeway and Hazel Court schools, Eastbourne, have put together a detailed bid for the cash to increase facilities at the school and develop its technology curriculum.

The Causeway School is a new comprehensive which currently has two forms of entry. Hazel Court is a secondary school for students with severe learning difficulties which shares the same buildings.

A campaign has been launched by the two schools to raise £50,000 from the local business community in a bid to secure £1 million of Government funding during the next seven years.

Letters have been sent to all local businesses in a bid to raise the cash which would break down to £125 per student at The Causeway and £600 per student at Hazel Court School.

The extra money would be used to pay for technology- related projects across the curriculum.

Head teacher of The Causeway, Peter Barton, said: "Technology college status will be our millennium project for both schools, sending our students fully technologically equipped into the 21st Century.

"If we get the status it will make a tremendous difference.

"The money will be used to buy more equipment and will reduce the ratio of children having a computer to one in five.

"This amount of new equipment will make a significant difference to the teaching of information communication technology in the school and will also enable

us to open it up to the community."

Mr Barton said: "As a technology college we will deliver the full national curriculum with particular strengths in technology, science and mathematics and encourage the active support of business and industry.

"Getting technology status would be a great triumph for the school and for the whole of Eastbourne.

"The people of the town will be able to come into

the school and use the

facilities, which would be

fantastic.

"Both schools believe that businesses and Eastbourne will reap enormous benefits by investing in this initiative now."

Anyone who can help with sponsorship should call 01323 465700.

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